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Alternative Approaches to Research in Physical Therapy: Positivism and Phenomenology

KF Shepard, PhD, PT, FAPTA, is Professor and Assistant Dean, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Allied Health Professions, Temple University, 3307 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19140 (USA).
GM Jensen, PhD, PT, is Associate Professor and Research Coordinator, Department of Physical Therapy, Samuel Merritt College, 370 Hawthorne Ave, Oakland, CA 94609.
BJ Schmoll, PhD, PT, is Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, The University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI 48502-2186.
L Hack, PhD, PT, is Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Allied Health Professions, Temple University.
J Gwyer, PhD, PT, is Assistant Professor, Graduate Program in Physical Therapy, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710.

This article presents philosophical approaches to research in physical therapy. A comparison is made to demonstrate how the research purpose, research design, research methods, and research data differ when one approaches research from the philosophical perspective of positivism (predominantly quantitative) as compared with the philosophical perspective of phenomenology (predominantly qualitative). Differences between the two approaches are highlighted by examples from research articles published in Physical Therapy. The authors urge physical therapy researchers to become familiar with the tenets, rigor, and knowledge gained from the use of both approaches in order to increase their options in conducting research relevant to the practice of physical therapy.

Key Words: Clinical research • Phenomenology • Positivism • Qualitative research • Research design

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Katherine F Shepard, Gail M Jensen, Beverly J Schmoll, Laurita M Hack, and Janet Gwyer
Physical Therapy 1993 73: 100-101. [Abstract] [PDF]

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